A global review of disaster reduction initiatives - Welcome to the ...
A global review of disaster reduction initiatives - Welcome to the ...
A global review of disaster reduction initiatives - Welcome to the ...
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6Living with Risk: A <strong>global</strong> <strong>review</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>disaster</strong> <strong>reduction</strong> <strong>initiatives</strong>Specialized agencies and o<strong>the</strong>r au<strong>to</strong>nomous organizations and <strong>disaster</strong> <strong>reduction</strong>Organizations and agencies part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> United Nations system carry out active programmes insupport <strong>of</strong> <strong>disaster</strong> <strong>reduction</strong> and many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m have streng<strong>the</strong>ned <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>disaster</strong> <strong>reduction</strong>capacity in <strong>the</strong>ir respective areas <strong>of</strong> competence during recent years. All agencies andprogrammes work with national or local authorities and in many cases with civil society organizationsand groups.308Programmes and fundsUnited Nations Development ProgrammeThe overarching mission <strong>of</strong> UNDP is <strong>to</strong> helpcountries build national capacity <strong>to</strong> achievesustainable human development. TheProgramme is giving <strong>to</strong>p priority <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> elimination<strong>of</strong> poverty and <strong>the</strong> building <strong>of</strong> equity byproviding development advice, advocacy andgrant support. UNDP, with headquarters inNew York and specific functions in Geneva,delivers most <strong>of</strong> its services through its 132country <strong>of</strong>fices, supported by regional bureaux,specialized programmes and trust funds. In eachcountry <strong>of</strong>fice, <strong>the</strong> UNDP resident representativenormally also serves as <strong>the</strong> resident coordina<strong>to</strong>rfor <strong>the</strong> United Nations system as a whole.UNDP is <strong>the</strong> most substantive United Nationsprogramme <strong>to</strong> promote and support <strong>the</strong> implementation<strong>of</strong> risk and vulnerability <strong>reduction</strong> indeveloping countries. In 1997, a GeneralAssembly decision transferred <strong>the</strong> responsibilities<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Emergency Relief Coordina<strong>to</strong>r (head<strong>of</strong> OCHA) for operational activities for natural<strong>disaster</strong> mitigation, prevention and preparedness<strong>to</strong> UNDP while OCHA retained its coordinationfunction <strong>of</strong> international relief operations.UNDP has been a member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ISDR Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction sinceits inception and chairs <strong>the</strong> Working Group onRisk, Vulnerability and Impact Assessment.The UNDP Bureau for Crisis Prevention andRecovery (BCPR)-formerly known as <strong>the</strong>Emergency Response Division (ERD)-is <strong>the</strong> inhousemechanism set up <strong>to</strong> provide a quickerand more effective response in Countries inSpecial Development Situations (CSDS)through <strong>the</strong> provision <strong>of</strong> services. As part <strong>of</strong>BCPR, <strong>the</strong> Geneva-based Disaster Reductionand Recovery Programme (DRRP) focuses onpromoting and supporting capacity-buildingand/or streng<strong>the</strong>ning <strong>of</strong> appropriate regionalorganizations, national authorities and institutionsfor mitigation, prevention and preparedness<strong>of</strong> natural, technological/industrial andenvironmental <strong>disaster</strong>s, through a structure <strong>of</strong>regional advisers. Main functions <strong>of</strong> DRRPinclude support <strong>to</strong> preventive development andtraining by:• Assessing vulnerability <strong>to</strong> crises and natural<strong>disaster</strong>s;• Establishing early warning systems;• Developing and maintaining a framework <strong>of</strong>developmental responses and o<strong>the</strong>r contingency<strong>disaster</strong> plans;• Forming and streng<strong>the</strong>ning country UnitedNations <strong>disaster</strong> management teams;• Integrating <strong>disaster</strong> preparedness, mitigation,prevention and response programmes in<strong>to</strong>national development programmes;• Regular reporting and updating <strong>of</strong> importantdevelopments in CSDS, as a part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earlywarning process;• Contributing <strong>to</strong> human resource developmentby improving capabilities in risk and vulnerabilityanalyses; planning for contingencies;designing responsive structures; implementingprevention and mitigation strategies for<strong>disaster</strong> and crisis.BCPR New YorkUNDP-1 UN PlazaNew York, NY 10017, United StatesTel: (+1-212) 906 5194Fax: (+1-212) 906 5379E-mail: erd@undp.orgWeb site: www.undp.org/erd/disred/index.htmBCPR Geneva11 Chemin des Anémones, ChâtelaineCH-1219 Geneva, SwitzerlandTel: (+41-22) 917 8540Fax: (+41-22) 917 8060E-mail: erd.gva@undp.orgWeb site:www.undp.org/erd/disred/index.htm
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